Sign-In
Cart
The Will to Believe
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025485461
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 358
Weight: 1.10
Height: 0.74 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Will to Believe is a cornerstone of American philosophy and a profound exploration of the relationship between faith, reason, and human action. Written by the renowned psychologist and philosopher William James, this collection of essays addresses the psychological and moral dimensions of belief. James defends the right to adopt a religious or spiritual worldview even in the absence of absolute scientific proof, arguing that in certain vital matters, our passions and will must guide us where logic remains undecided.
Through a series of engaging and accessible lectures, James contrasts his pragmatic approach with the rigid skepticism of his contemporaries. He explores the religious hypothesis not as a set of dogmas, but as a living option that can provide meaning and moral direction to a person's life. The work delves into themes of radical empiricism, the importance of individual experience, and the ethical implications of our choices. The Will to Believe remains an essential text for anyone interested in the philosophy of religion, the limits of rationalism, and the transformative power of human conviction.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
8 different editions
Also available
Also from
James, William
Gone with the Shamal: Growing Up in the Oil Company Compound of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in the 1940s and 1950s
James, William
Paperback
The Varieties of Religious Experience, a Study in Human Nature (Annotated): Easy-to-read Layout (Large Print Edition)
James, William
Paperback
The Accidental Executive: Finding Purpose in Public Service: From GS-1 to the Senior Executive Service
James, William
Hardcover
The Will to Believe, Human Immortality, and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy
James, William
Paperback
The Little Book of Life After Death
Fechner, Gustav Theodor
James, William
Wadsworth, Mary C.
Paperback
The Principles of Psychology (Volume 1 of 2): Complete with Illustrations and Tables
James, William
Paperback
The Varieties of Religious Experience, a Study in Human Nature (Annotated): Easy-to-read Layout (Large Print Edition)
James, William
Hardcover
Understanding the Science of Fasting: Exploring the Physiological Mechanisms and Health Benefits of Fasting.
James, William
Paperback
A Pluralistic Universe; Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy
James, William
Paperback
On Some of Life's Ideals: On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings: What Makes a Life Significant
James, William
Hardcover
On Some of Life's Ideals: On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings; What Makes Life Significant
James, William
Hardcover
Essays, Philosophical and Psychological, in Honor of William James, Professor in Harvard University,
James, William
Hardcover
Essays in Radical Empiricism: A Classic Work of Pragmatism, Experience, and Philosophy of Mind
James, William
Hardcover
The William James Reader Vol I: Collected Philosophical and Psychological Works
James, William
Hardcover
The Principles of Psychology (Volume 1 of 2): Complete with Illustrations and Tables (Hardcover)
James, William
Hardcover
The Principles of Psychology: Vol. 1 - Complete with Illustrations and Tables (Hardcover)
James, William
Hardcover
The Principles of Psychology: Vol. 1 - Complete with Illustrations and Tables
James, William
Paperback
Den Religiösa Erfarenheten I Dess Skilda Former: Föreläsningar Hållna I Edinburgh, 1901-1902
James, William
Paperback
On Some of Life's Ideals: On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings: What Makes a Life Significant
James, William
Paperback
Also in
Philosophy
Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea
Hunt-Hendrix, Leah
Taylor, Astra
Hardcover
In the Beginning Was the Deed: Realism and Moralism in Political Argument
Williams, Bernard
Paperback
The American Indian Mind in a Linear World: American Indian Studies and Traditional Knowledge
Fixico, Donald Lee
Paperback
Dreaming of Cinema: Spectatorship, Surrealism, and the Age of Digital Media
Lowenstein, Adam
Paperback
Machine Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm: Spiritual Freedom and the Re-Animation of Matter
Lafitte, Luke
Paperback
The Sociogony: Social Facts and the Ontology of Objects, Things, and Monsters
Worrell, Mark P.
Paperback
On Quality: An Inquiry Into Excellence: Unpublished and Selected Writings
Pirsig, Wendy K.
Pirsig, Robert M.
Hardcover
The Electromagnetic Brain: Em Field Theories on the Nature of Consciousness
Joye, Shelli Renée
Paperback
Philosophy in Turbulent Times: Canguilhem, Sartre, Foucault, Althusser, Deleuze, Derrida
Roudinesco, Elisabeth
Paperback
The New Science of Giambattista Vico: Unabridged Translation of the Third Edition (1744) with the Addition of Practic of the New Science
Vico, Giambattista
Paperback
The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy
Giridharadas, Anand
Hardcover
The Dream of Reason: A History of Philosophy from the Greeks to the Renaissance
Gottlieb, Anthony
Paperback
The Modes of Scepticism: Ancient Texts and Modern Interpretations
Julia, Annas
Annas, Julia
Barnes, Jonathan
Paperback
Friendship and Society: An Introduction to Augustine's Practical Philosophy
Burt, Donald X.
Paperback
Essays V2: Moral And Entertaining On The Various Faculties And Passions Of The Human Mind (1815)
Clarendon, Edward Hyde Earl of
Paperback
The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Hanselman, Stephen
Holiday, Ryan
Hardcover
The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us
Goldstein, Rebecca Newberger
Hardcover
The Obstacle Is the Way Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph
Holiday, Ryan
Hardcover
Self-Help from the Middle Ages: What the Seven Deadly Sins Can Teach Us about Living
Jones, Peter
Hardcover
Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness
Godfrey-Smith, Peter
Paperback
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Fifth Anniversary Limited Edition: The Global Bestseller
Mackesy, Charlie
Hardcover
Bless & Release: The physics of letting go-and wanting what's meant for you.
Laporte, Danielle
Paperback
The Ethical Slut, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love
Hardy, Janet W.
Easton, Dossie
Paperback
My Big TOE Awakening Discovery Inner Workings: The Complete My Big TOE Trilogy Unifying Philosophy, Physics and Metaphysics
Campbell, Thomas
Hardcover
Self-Reliance and Nature: The Complete First and Second Series of Emerson's Essays
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
Hardcover
Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan
Yoda, Hiroko
Hardcover
Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark: Mysticism, Art, and the Path of Unknowing
Smith, James K. A.
Hardcover